Food chafer with releasably lockable rolltop

Abstract

A food chafer with a releasably lockable rolltop is provided. The chafer structure includes a framework for supporting a water pan which in turn supports a food pan therein. The rolltop is rotatably mounted to the framework with a lock mechanism. The rolltop is releasably lockable in a partially open position which allows access to food in the food pan. The rolltop is movable from the partially open position in a direction toward a closed position or in a direction toward a fully open position simply by application of force in the desired direction of movement. The working parts of the lock mechanism are completely self-contained so that no manipulation of external parts to lock or unlock the rolltop is required.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A food chafer comprising: 
       a framework for supporting a food pan; and  
       a rolltop rotatably connected to said framework for covering said food pan, said rolltop being rotatable between a closed position wherein said top covers said food pan and a fully open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removal from said food chafer, and being releasably lockable in a partially open locked position between said fully open and closed positions, wherein said top is releasable for movement from said partially open locked position in a direction toward either of said closed or fully open positions, and wherein the only manipulation required to release the rolltop from the locked position for movement in either direction is the application to the rolltop of a moving force in the desired direction of movement.  
     
     
       2. The food chafer of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock mechanism mounted to said framework, wherein said rolltop is fixed to said lock mechanism and wherein said lock mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop relative to said frame. 
     
     
       3. A food chafer comprising: 
       a framework for supporting a food pan;  
       a pair of lock mechanisms, said lock mechanisms being connected to said framework and having a common longitudinal central axis; and  
       a rolltop rotatably connected to said framework for covering said food pan and fixed to said lock mechanism, wherein said lock mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop relative to said frame between a closed position wherein said top covers said food pan and a fully open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removal from said food chafer, wherein said rolltop is releasably lockable in a partially open locked position between said fully open and closed positions, wherein said top is releasable for movement from said partially open locked position in a direction toward either of said closed or fully open positions, and wherein the only manipulation required to release the rolltop from the locked position for movement in either direction is the application to the rolltop of a moving force in the desired direction of movement.  
     
     
       4. A food chafer comprising: 
       a framework for supporting a food pan, said framework comprising an outer rim, a plurality of legs connected to said outer rim and extending downward therefrom to a support surface, and an inner rim spaced inwardly from said outer rim for supporting said food pan;  
       a lock mechanism mounted to said framework; and  
       a rolltop rotatably connected to said framework for covering said food pan and fixed to said lock mechanism, wherein said lock mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop relative to said frame, said rolltop being rotatable between a closed position wherein said top covers said food pan and a fully open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removal from said food chafer, and being releasably lockable in a partially open locked position between said fully open and closed positions, wherein said top is releasable for movement from said partially open locked position in a direction toward either of said closed or fully open positions, and wherein the only manipulation required to release the rolltop from the locked position for movement in either direction is the application to the rolltop of a moving force in the desired direction of movement.  
     
     
       5. The food chafer of  claim 4 , said lock mechanism comprising: 
       a lug connected to said inner rim;  
       an axle attached to said lug and extending outwardly from said lug; and  
       a mounting hub rotatably disposed about said axle, said rolltop being fixedly attached to said mounting hub.  
     
     
       6. The food chafer of  claim 5 , further comprising a spring disposed in a passageway defined in said mounting hub, said passageway extending from an inner surface of said mounting hub partially through said hub and terminating at a base, wherein said inner surface of said mounting hub is adjacent to and spaced from an outward facing surface of said lug; and 
       wherein said spring engages a locking element and urges said locking element into engagement with said outward facing surface of said lug, said lug defining a lock receptacle therein for receiving said locking element, said lock receptacle being located so that when said rolltop is rotated to said partially open position, said spring will urge said lock element into said lock receptacle to releasably lock said top in said partially open position.  
     
     
       7. The food chafer of  claim 5 , wherein said mounting hub defines a plurality of spring openings for receiving a spring, wherein each spring received in a spring opening engages a locking element, the lugs having a plurality of lock receptacles positioned at predetermined locations, and wherein said springs urge said locking elements toward said lock receptacles, so that said rolltop will be releasably locked in a desired position when any of said locking elements engage any of said lock receptacles. 
     
     
       8. The food chafer of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
       two of said passageways defined in each said mounting hub, said passageways being spaced apart from each other, each passageway having a spring received therein, wherein each spring engages a locking element and biases said locking element toward said lug; and  
       said lug defining two lock receptacles spaced apart from one another, wherein in said closed position said locking elements are spaced from said lock receptacles such that rotation of said rolltop about 90° from said closed position will cause said locking elements to engage said lock receptacles to releasably lock said top in said partially open position.  
     
     
       9. The food chafer of  claim 5 , said axle having an inner end and an outer end, the chafer further comprising: 
       a cap connected to the outer end of said axle.  
     
     
       10. A food chafer comprising: 
       a framework for supporting a food pan, said framework comprising an outer rim having legs attached thereto, an inner rim spaced inwardly from said outer rim, wherein said food chafer further comprises a water pan supported by said inner rim, said water pan having a water return spout, and  
       a rolltop rotatably connected to said framework for covering said food pan, said rolltop defining a condensate opening for allowing condensate that forms on said rolltop to drip therethrough, wherein said condensate that passes through said opening is collected by said water return spout and communicated into said water pan, said rolltop being rotatable between a closed position wherein said top covers said food pan and a fully open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removal from said food chafer, and being releasably lockable in a partially open locked position between said fully open and closed positions, wherein said top is releasable for movement from said partially open locked position in a direction toward either of said closed or fully open positions, wherein the only manipulation required to release the rolltop from the locked position for movement in either direction is the application to the rolltop of a moving force in the desired direction of movement.  
     
     
       11. A food chafer for holding a food pan comprising: 
       a framework for supporting said food pan;  
       first and second axles mounted to said framework;  
       a mounting hub rotatably disposed about each axle; and  
       a rolltop for covering said food pan, said rolltop being fixedly connected to said mounting hubs so that said rolltop is adapted to rotate from a closed position wherein said food pan is covered by said rolltop to a desired open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removing food therefrom, and wherein said mounting hubs are releasably lockable in said desired open position, said hubs being releasable for rotation from said desired open position toward and away from said closed position solely by application of a moving force in the desired direction.  
     
     
       12. A food chafer for holding a food pan comprising: 
       a framework for supporting said food pan;  
       first and second axles mounted to said framework;  
       a mounting hub rotatably disposed about each axle; and  
       a rolltop for covering said food pan, said rolltop being fixedly connected to said mounting hubs so that said rolltop is adapted to rotate from a closed position wherein said food pan is covered by said rolltop to a desired open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removing food therefrom, and wherein said mounting hubs are releasably lockable in said desired open position, said hubs being releasable for rotation from said desired open position toward and away from said closed position solely by application of a moving force in the desired direction.  
     
     
       13. The food chafer of  claim 12  wherein each said mounting hub comprises: 
       a support ring rotatably disposed about its respective axle; and  
       a mounting cap connected to said support ring, said rolltop being connected to said mounting cap.  
     
     
       14. The food chafer of  claim 12  further comprising: 
       a locking element operably associated with each said mounting hub for releasably locking said mounting hub in said desired open position; and  
       biasing means for urging said locking element into engagement with a locking element receptacle, wherein said top is releasably locked when said locking element engages said locking receptacles.  
     
     
       15. The food chafer of  claim 14  further comprising: 
       two lugs connected to said inner rim, wherein each said axle is connected to a lug and extends outwardly therefrom toward said outer rim.  
     
     
       16. The food chafer of  claim 15 , wherein said biasing means comprises a spring having first and second ends, said first end engaging said mounting hub and said second end engaging said locking element, each locking receptacle comprising a cavity defined in said lug for receiving a locking element. 
     
     
       17. The food chafer of  claim 16 , wherein rotation of said top from said closed position into said desired open position will cause said locking elements to be received in said locking receptacles. 
     
     
       18. The food chafer of  claim 16 , wherein each said mounting hub defines a pair of passages extending from an inward surface thereof partially through said mounting hub and wherein each mounting hub has a pair of locking elements operably associated therewith, each said passage having a spring received therein, wherein said spring biases said locking elements into engagement with an outer surface of said lug, each said lug having a pair of locking receptacles for receiving said locking elements. 
     
     
       19. The food chafer of  claim 18 , wherein said locking elements maintain constant engagement with said lug, and wherein rotation of said mounting hub rotates said locking elements relative to said lug to move said locking elements in and out of said locking receptacles. 
     
     
       20. A food chafer for holding a food pan comprising: 
       a framework for supporting said food pan;  
       first and second axles mounted to said framework;  
       a mounting hub rotatably disposed about each axle;  
       a rolltop for covering said food pan, said rolltop being fixedly connected to said mounting hubs so that said rolltop is adapted to rotate from a closed position wherein said food pan is covered by said rolltop to a desired open position wherein said food pan is accessible for removing food therefrom, and wherein said mounting hubs are releasably lockable in said desired open position, said mounting hubs being releasable for rotation from said desired open position toward and away from said closed position solely by application of a moving force in the desired direction;  
       a water pan supported by said frame; and  
       a burner for heating water in said water pan, said rolltop having an opening for allowing condensate forming on said rolltop to drip therethrough, wherein said water pan has a water return for collecting said condensate passing through said opening and delivering said condensate into said water pan.  
     
     
       21. The food chafer of  claim 20 , wherein said water return comprises an inverted spout for collecting said condensate, and wherein said spout directs said condensate through an opening defined in a side of said water pan. 
     
     
       22. A food chafer comprising: 
       a framework;  
       a water pan for holding water supported by said framework;  
       a food pan supported by said water pan and positioned so that a bottom thereof is located above a bottom of said water pan;  
       a rolltop for removably covering said food pan, said rolltop including a drain for draining condensate that collects on said rolltop; and  
       a condensate collector for collecting said condensate from said drain and delivering said condensate to said water pan.  
     
     
       23. The food chafer of  claim 22 , said rolltop comprising a downward facing rolltop having a lower edge in a closed position of the rolltop, said rolltop having an inwardly extending flange connected to said lower edge, wherein said drain comprises an opening in said inwardly extending flange. 
     
     
       24. The food chafer of  claim 23 , said condensate collector comprising a spout connected to said water pan, said water pan having a hole in a side thereof for receiving condensate collected by said spout. 
     
     
       25. The food chafer of  claim 22 , said rolltop being moveable from a closed position wherein said food pan is covered, to an open position wherein said top allows sufficient access to remove said food pan, said top being releasably lockable in a partially open locked position between said closed and said filly open position. 
     
     
       26. The food chafer of  claim 25 , wherein said rolltop is released from said partially open locked position for movement toward either of said open or closed position solely by the application of force in the desired direction. 
     
     
       27. A food chafer comprising: 
       a framework for supporting a food pan;  
       a self-locking, self-contained locking mechanism connected to said framework; and  
       a rolltop connected to said self-locking, self-contained locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop between a closed position and a fully open position, and will releasably lock said rolltop in a desired open position between said closed and fully open position.  
     
     
       28. A food chafer comprising: 
       a framework for supporting a food pan;  
       two self-locking, self-contained locking mechanisms connected to said framework; and  
       a rolltop connected to said self-locking, self-contained locking mechanisms, wherein the locking mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop between a closed position and a fully open position and will releasably lock said rolltop in a desired open position between said closed and fully open position.  
     
     
       29. The food chafer of  claim 28 , wherein said locking mechanisms have a common longitudinal central axis. 
     
     
       30. A food chafer comprising: 
       a framework for supporting a food pan;  
       a self-locking, self-contained locking mechanism connected to said framework, said locking mechanism comprising an axle mounted to said framework, and a mounting hub rotatably disposed about said axle; and  
       a rolltop connected to said mounting hub, wherein said locking mechanism provides for rotation of said rolltop between a closed position and a fully open position and will releasably lock said rolltop in a desired open position between said closed and fully open position.  
     
     
       31. The food chafer of  claim 30 , the locking mechanism further comprising: 
       a locking element rotatable with said mounting hub; and  
       a locking receptacle operably associated with said mounting hub, wherein rotation of said mounting hub will move said locking element into engagement with said locking receptacle, thereby releasably locking said rolltop in said desired open position.  
     
     
       32. The food chafer of  claim 31 , the locking mechanism comprising at least two locking elements and at least two locking receptacles. 
     
     
       33. The food chafer of  claim 31 , said mounting hub defining a passage for holding a biasing element, wherein said biasing element engages said locking element to urge said element into said locking receptacle.